I wonder if the problem is too much technology, too many choices, too many distractions, and just too many people.

Definitely a big part of it. No ability to commit, because there is always another "friend" waiting with a swipe. No reason to talk to a stranger on the bus, when there are a thousand strangers behind the screen.

Each person knew maybe a hundred others, and that's all they'd ever know.

It has been a bait and switch with social media, first friends, then random acquaintances from the past - now a mountain of strangers. As if the volume makes up for the quality.

Perhaps we'd be better off reverting to smaller groups instead of nations of millions and global "communities" of people who never meet face to face.

I believe so. Organise at scale, but live locally.